The debate debacle has sparked speculation that President Joe Biden might end his reelection bid and free up his delegates to support another candidate for the Democratic nomination.
If Biden were to withdraw, he would need to do so soon: The party’s national convention is in Chicago from Aug. 19 to 22.
As speculation grows about Biden, so too will speculation about which candidates will vie for the nomination.
For the sake of speculation, here are these candidates (in alphabetical order) and some speculation about why their candidacies may or may not work.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
Why it works: At 46, Beshear is young and has won statewide not once but twice in a Republican-leaning state, suggesting he may have some support among moderate and independent voters.
Reasons why it might not work: When the Democrats nominated James K. Polk for president in 1844, Whigs jeered, “Who the hell is James K. Polk?” And there was no Internet back then. Beshear, like Polk, was unknown on the national stage, unscathed by the national media scrutiny that had brought down previous political aspirants (John Edwards, Gary Hart, etc.). Of course, Beshear may know that Polk won the election and got the last laugh for the Whigs.
Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Why it works: At 42, Buttigieg is young, charismatic and a first-rate speaker with national stage experience.
Reasons why it might not work: Buttigieg is gay, and sadly homophobia still exists, and, like Beshear, he may not win in his home state of ruby-red Indiana.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Why it works: Cooper won across the heavily Republican state of North Carolina, showing he can win coveted support from moderates and independents.
Reasons why it might not work: At 67, Cooper is not as old as Biden, but he is older than Biden, and if the party is going to ignore one old man, why turn its attention to the other?
Vice President Kamala Harris
Why it works: Harris has weathered the gauntlet of a presidential election and endured intense national media scrutiny. As a former prosecutor, she should be able to “prosecute” the case against former President Donald Trump and appeal to voters who blame him for appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. Black voters, who are the most likely to support the Democratic Party, are likely to support Harris, a Howard University graduate.
Reasons why it might not work: Republicans have caricatured Harris as a vocal liberal, even more liberal than Biden, who will shoulder all the problems that are said to be plaguing a Biden administration: high inflation, illegal immigration, a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the horrific war between Israel and Hamas.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Why it works: Moore, 45, is a young, dynamic man, a former Rhodes Scholar who served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Baltimore area brought Moore national attention, but he acted honorably, expressing sympathy for the victims and pledging to quickly rebuild the bridge.
Reasons why it might not work: As a young, black, male politician, voters might try to compare him to Barack Obama, a bar most candidates can’t clear, and Moore is in only his first term as governor.
California Governor Gavin Newsom
Why it works: Newsom, 56, is a political junior, charismatic, eloquent and to the point: He supports everything progressive Democrats support and opposes everything they oppose.
Reasons why it might not work: Newsom’s first wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, is now Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend. Does she have a story? At 38, Newsom had a brief relationship with a 19-year-old woman. It wasn’t illegal, but it was gross. Then there was the issue of him sleeping with the wife of his best friend, campaign manager, and secretary-appointed to the mayor of San Francisco. If Newsom’s personal life doesn’t get Republicans excited, stories of Newsom’s involvement in California’s homelessness and housing shortage will have them salivating.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Why it works: Shapiro is a popular Democratic governor in a key battleground state, and while he’s not old at 51, he has plenty of experience, having served as state attorney general and in the House of Representatives.
Reasons why it might not work: Mr. Shapiro, who would be Israel’s first Jewish president, has been a vocal supporter of Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Some delegates may worry that he will become sucked into the intractable and vicious conflict between Israel and Hamas that has pitted key Democratic constituencies against each other.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Why it works: Whitmer won statewide twice in key battleground states. She aggressively touted her and her party’s support for abortion rights and blasted Trump and the Republican Party for their opposition. Nicknamed “Big Gretsch” by a Detroit rapper, Whitmer signed gun control legislation, cut taxes for small businesses and resisted Republican attempts to restrict voting rights. Even in the face of a kidnapping plot hatched by enraged Trump supporters and anti-government protesters, she refused to abandon her coronavirus restrictions.
Reasons why it might not work: Whitmer has not been scrutinized by national media, and there are questions about whether she has the charisma to appeal to a wide range of voters, including many who are not interested in politics and have never heard of her.
This list is certainly not exhaustive, and as you might imagine, there is speculation about other candidates. Bernie Sanders Even the 82-year-old Vermont senator will likely bring some delegates to tears, as will some U.S. senators. Elizabeth Warren U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez The New York native will turn 35 in October, making her the age to run for president.
If Biden were to drop out of the race, the Democratic National Convention would be the most highly anticipated ticket after Caitlin Clark’s match.
Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations for the Palm Beach Post. Contact him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Support our work and subscribe today.
